Dreaming of a Career in Air Traffic Control? Our Enhanced AT-CTI Program Is Affordable and Features FAA Academy Curriculum

Mike Gersh is the Air Traffic Control Program Administrator at SUNY Schenectady overseeing the Enhanced Air Traffic Control (AT-CTI) A.A.S. degree. He has more than three decades of experience in the field as an Air Traffic Control Specialist and Operations Supervisor with the United States Air Force (USAF) and the FAA, and as a civilian Air Traffic Controller with the United States Army. 

While with the FAA, Mike was certified in the Charleston, W. Va., Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Knoxville, Tenn., ATCT, Atlanta Center, and the New York (N90) TRACON. While in the USAF, he was an Air Traffic Controller at four different bases and flew more than 2,000 hours as a Weapons Controller on the E-3 AWACS. Mike graduated from the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor course (TOP GUN) as a Weapons Controller and earned his bachelor’s degree in Prior Learning and University Studies from Oklahoma City University.

Here Mike tells us more about the Enhanced AT-CTI A.A.S. degree program and how he got started in the Aviation industry. 

The new Enhanced AT-CTI program at SUNY Schenectady is an outstanding opportunity for students to gain the foundation they need to begin their careers in an FAA tower. Can you tell us about the program?

“We are approved to teach the FAA Academy curriculum, using previously certified FAA controllers and a high-fidelity simulator. We are one of only nine colleges and universities in the nation meeting the stringent requirements of the FAA to instruct at the Enhanced level, and just one of four community colleges. When you graduate with your A.A.S in Air Traffic Control and complete the ATSA exam, you will bypass the FAA Academy and go directly to an FAA facility after you are hired.”

What advantages do students gain by attending SUNY Schenectady for the Enhanced AT-CTI?

“Our program offers efficient training and frequent opportunities to review and discuss topics. The instruction at the FAA Academy is like a fire hose — highly intensive with a lot of information in a brief period, which limits opportunities for clarification or individual guidance. Not all students learn the same, and at the College we can adjust teaching styles if needed to make sure the students are proficient with the information. The FAA Academy has a high attrition rate. We are teaching the exact course material as the Academy, just at a more manageable pace. Additionally, we are one of the most affordable programs of any of the Enhanced AT-CTI institutions.”

SUNY Schenectady has the largest, most comprehensive simulator east of the Mississippi River. What’s it like?

“Comprehensive is an understatement! The amount of information we can input for the students to see is massive. We can change weather conditions, the weight of an aircraft, how fast a plane can taxi, and even how hard the aircraft brakes on landing. We also have En Route and ATSpeak voice recognition — outside of the U.S. military, SUNY Schenectady is the only institution that has them. ATSpeak lets students practice phraseology with instant feedback.”   

What else stands out about the Enhanced AT-CTI program at SUNY Schenectady?

“A big feature in my mind is that you are still a college student. You take other courses, join college clubs, and have one-on-one interaction as needed. Our faculty are aviation professionals with real-world experience working in air traffic control towers, TRACONs, and En Route, and the students have time for in-depth conversations with them about ATC and what to expect in their career.”

How is SUNY Schenectady’s Enhanced AT-CTI program helping fill the national need for qualified controllers?

“When our students are within a year of graduation, they can start applying for FAA jobs under a specific job announcement for Enhanced AT-CTI graduates. This will help the FAA plan ahead on placing graduates into facilities with staffing needs. We are proud to be part of this direct pathway to employment for our graduates.”

Are you seeing a trend among students who were studying to become pilots or were already private or professional pilots who are now pursuing a career change to Air Traffic Control?

“There is a dire need for professionals to fill aviation jobs in general. Some people consider ATC after beginning their pilot careers. The reasons why they change paths are everything from the cost of pilot training, to not being at home as much they would like, to salary. We are one of the most affordable programs of any of the Enhanced AT-CTI institutions and just a fraction of what it costs to become a commercial pilot. Those who come to us with pilot experience who want to become air traffic controllers already have a foundation that I believe helps them with ATC.”

What makes the field of Air Traffic Control so exciting for someone who might interested in pursuing this career path?

“Every day is different. You’re working as a team to make sure everyone gets to where they are going safely. ATC is a very small group of passionate aviation professionals. Now that I am retired and teaching, I want to pass the knowledge and experience I gained on to the next generation of ATC.”

Can you tell us about your own passion for the field of Air Traffic Control which now sees you welcoming enthusiastic students into the field?

“When I initially got into ATC, it was with the USAF. My goal growing up was to be a fighter pilot. I was in the Air Traffic Control field and looking out a tower window which was motivation for me to finish my degree and apply for a pilot slot. About 10 years in, I finally finished my degree and was selected to be a pilot in the USAF. Unfortunately, I was hurt in training and did not meet the pilot age requirement. I got out of the Air Force and applied for the FAA. ATC is a job like no other.”

SUNY Schenectady is hosting an Aviation & Enhanced Air Traffic Control Open House on Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Learn more about our Aviation Science A.S. degree — pilot and non-pilot options and Enhanced AT-CTI A.A.S. degree. Meet our faculty, learn about the curriculum and career pathways, and see how our programs prepare students for high-demand careers in aviation and air traffic control. Reserve your spot today!